Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Announce Permanent Exit from ECOWAS by 2025

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger plan to withdraw from ECOWAS by 2025, citing sovereignty concerns and regional dynamics, marking a significant shift in West African politics.

Starting in 2025, Burkina Faso, Mali, and the Republic of Niger will no longer be members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Alieu Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, announced this on Sunday at the 66th ordinary session of heads of state and government in Abuja.

reported that the military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their immediate withdrawal from ECOWAS in January of this year.

Before the withdrawal, the trio had been suspended from ECOWAS, with Niger and Mali enduring severe sanctions.

Touray stated that ECOWAS has now scheduled the countries’ exit between January 29, 2025, and July 29, 2025.

The president of ECOWAS stated that the timeline would provide an opportunity for final mediations and any diplomatic interventions.

This development follows the announcement by the military-led governments of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso regarding their decision to exit from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), characterizing this action as “irreversible.”

In a joint statement, the three countries accused ECOWAS of prioritizing the interests of France, their former colonial ruler, and vowed to forge a new path for their citizens.

The announcement comes before a crucial ECOWAS summit set for Sunday, where regional leaders aim to negotiate a solution to keep the three nations within the bloc.